U.S. patent number 8,967,934 [Application Number 12/846,417] was granted by the patent office on 2015-03-03 for bale loading and transporting trailer system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sioux Steel Company. The grantee listed for this patent is Matt Palmlund, Brian Schuelke, Leroy Stumpe. Invention is credited to Matt Palmlund, Brian Schuelke, Leroy Stumpe.
United States Patent |
8,967,934 |
Palmlund , et al. |
March 3, 2015 |
Bale loading and transporting trailer system
Abstract
A bale loading and transporting trailer apparatus comprises a
transport assembly having wheels, and a bale support frame on the
transport assembly to support the bale support frame above the
ground surface. The bale support frame is movable with respect to
the transport assembly between a load condition for supporting
bales and a dump condition for rolling bales off of the bale
support frame. A lift frame is configured to lift a bale positioned
adjacent to the bale support frame onto the support frame. A bale
shifting assembly is configured to shift a bale rearwardly from a
load position on the bale support frame to a store position behind
the load position. The bale shifting assembly may include a sled
movable in a longitudinal direction on the bale support frame to
carry a bale positioned thereon along the bale support frame.
Inventors: |
Palmlund; Matt (Bancroft,
SD), Schuelke; Brian (Lennox, SD), Stumpe; Leroy
(Hartford, SD) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Palmlund; Matt
Schuelke; Brian
Stumpe; Leroy |
Bancroft
Lennox
Hartford |
SD
SD
SD |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sioux Steel Company (Sioux
Falls, SD)
|
Family
ID: |
52574971 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/846,417 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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61230480 |
Jul 31, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
414/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D
90/083 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01D
90/08 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;414/111,132,24.5,24.6,522,551,552,554,789.4,525.1,790.3,791.6,792.6
;198/370.02,468.1,468.11,468.7,750.2,750.5,772 ;298/18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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3213196 |
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Oct 1983 |
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DE |
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79315 |
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May 1983 |
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EP |
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2620300 |
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Mar 1989 |
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FR |
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Other References
Webpage: Tubeline bale wagons, accessible at
http://www.tubeline.ca/Products/Technobale/ available on the web as
of Dec. 19, 2008; accessed on Dec. 8, 2011. Website details a lift
frame having main, medial and tip portions. cited by
examiner.
|
Primary Examiner: Adams; Gregory
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Proehl; Jeffrey A. Woods, Fuller,
Shultz & Smith, PC
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to and the benefit of: U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/230,480, by Matt
Palmlund, titled "BALE LOADING AND TRANSPORTING TRAILER SYSTEM"
filed Jul. 31, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A bale loading and transporting trailer apparatus comprising: a
transport assembly having wheels for moving across a ground
surface; a bale support frame configured to support a plurality of
bales, the transport assembly supporting the bale support frame
above the ground surface, the bale support frame being elongated
with a longitudinal axis and opposite front and rear ends, the bale
support frame being movable with respect to the transport assembly
between a load condition configured to support bales on the bale
support frame and a dump condition configured to roll any bales on
the bale support frame off of the bale support frame; a lift frame
configured to lift a bale positioned adjacent to the bale support
frame onto the bale support frame into a load position, the lift
frame being pivotally movable with respect to the bale support
frame to move a bale on the ground surface into the load position;
and a bale shifting assembly configured to shift a bale in the load
position rearwardly on the bale support frame to a store position
rearward of the load position such that any bale in the store
position contacted by the bale in the load position is moved in a
rearward direction of the bale support frame; wherein the bale
shifting assembly includes a sled movable in a longitudinal
direction on the bale support frame to carry a bale positioned
thereon along the bale support frame, the sled including a pusher
structure extending upwardly to push against a generally vertically
extending surface of a bale in the load position and a support
structure extending longitudinally below the load position to
support a substantially horizontally extending surface of the bale
in the load position, the support structure being connected to the
pusher structure such that the pusher structure and the support
structure of the sled move as a unit and the support structure
maintains support of the bale as the pusher structure pushes the
bale from the load position to the store position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sled is movable between a
home position generally corresponding to the load position of a
bale on the bale support frame and a push position generally
corresponding to a position rearward of the home position.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bale shifting assembly is
movable along only a partial portion of a length of the bale
support frame.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein movement of the bale shifting
assembly is limited to a range between a position proximate to the
front end of the bale support frame to a position less than
one-half of the length of the bale support frame.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sled of the bale shifting
assembly comprises a pusher structure with at least a portion
thereof being located above the bale support frame for contacting a
bale located in the load position of the bale support frame, and a
pair of longitudinal members extending from the pusher structure
longitudinally along the bale support frame for positioning below a
bale when the bale is being pushed by the bale shifting
assembly.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the bale shifting assembly
comprises at least one sled guide rail mounted on the bale support
frame for supporting and guiding movement of the sled between the
home position and the push position.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pusher structure of the
sled includes a central portion and the lateral end portion that is
inclined upwardly and forwardly from the central portion for
guiding a bale moving into the load position on the support
frame.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bale shifting assembly
comprises a sled moving assembly mounted on the bale support frame
and acting on the sled to move the sled with respect to the bale
support frame between the home and push positions.
Description
BACKGROUND
Field
The present disclosure relates to trailers and more particularly
pertains to a new bale loading and transporting trailer system for
moving baled material from one location to another location.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure describes a new bale loading and
transporting trailer system which may be utilized for providing an
easily used and economically constructed manner of moving baled
material from one location to another location in a relatively
quick operation.
The present disclosure relates to a bale loading and transporting
trailer that may comprise a transport assembly for moving across a
ground surface, a bale support frame that is configured to support
a plurality of bales and is tiltably mounted on the transport
assembly, an actuation assembly configured to cause tilting of the
bale support frame with respect to the transport assembly, a hitch
assembly located at the front end of the bale support frame, a lift
frame configured to lift a bale positioned adjacent to the bale
support frame onto the bale support frame, and a bale shifting
assembly configured to shift a bale from a load position on the
bale support frame to a store position behind the load
position.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a bale loading and
transporting trailer apparatus may comprise a transport assembly
having wheels for moving across a ground surface. A bale support
frame may be configured to support a plurality of bales, with the
transport assembly supporting the bale support frame above the
ground surface. The bale support frame may be elongated with a
longitudinal axis and opposite front and rear ends. The bale
support frame may be movable with respect to the transport assembly
between a load condition configured to support bales on the bale
support frame and a dump condition configured to roll any bales on
the bale support frame off of the bale support frame. A lift frame
may be configured to lift a bale positioned adjacent to the bale
support frame onto the bale support frame into a load position, and
the lift frame may be pivotally movable with respect to the bale
support frame to move a bale on the ground surface into the load
position. A bale shifting assembly may be configured to shift a
bale in the load position rearwardly on the bale support frame to a
store position behind the load position such that any bale in the
stored position contacted by the bale in the load position is moved
in a rearward direction of the bale support frame. The bale
shifting assembly may include a sled movable in a longitudinal
direction on the bale support frame to carry a bale positioned
thereon along the bale support frame.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a bale loading and
transporting trailer apparatus may comprise a transport assembly
having wheels for moving across a ground surface. A bale support
frame may be configured to support a plurality of bales, with the
transport assembly supporting the bale support frame above the
ground surface. The bale support frame may be elongated with a
longitudinal axis and opposite front and rear ends. The bale
support frame may be movable with respect to the transport assembly
between a load condition configured to support bales on the bale
support frame and a dump condition configured to roll any bales on
the bale support frame off of the bale support frame. A lift frame
may be configured to lift a bale positioned adjacent to the bale
support frame onto the bale support frame into a load position, and
the lift frame may be pivotally movable with respect to the bale
support frame to move a bale on the ground surface into the load
position. A bale shifting assembly may be configured to shift a
bale in the load position rearwardly on the bale support frame to a
store position behind the load position such that any bale in the
stored position contacted by the bale in the load position is moved
in a rearward direction of the bale support frame. The lift frame
may comprise a primary arm extending outwardly from the bale
support frame and being pivotable with respect to the bale support
frame, with the primary arm having an inboard end and an outboard
end. A pair of lift arms may be mounted on the primary arm and may
extend away from the primary arm in substantially the same
direction for positioning below a bale resting on a ground surface
to be lifted. Mounting structure may mount the lift frame to the
bale support frame is offset in a rearward direction on the bale
support with respect to a location of the lift arms.
In still another aspect of the disclosure, a bale loading and
transporting trailer apparatus may comprise a transport assembly
having laterally-spaced wheels for moving across a ground surface,
and having a central fore-aft axis positioned centrally between the
laterally-space wheels. A bale support frame may be configured to
support a plurality of bales, with the transport assembly
supporting the bale support frame above the ground surface. The
bale support frame may be elongated with a longitudinal axis and
opposite front and rear ends, and the bale support frame may be
movable with respect to the transport assembly between a load
condition configured to support bales on the bale support frame and
a dump condition configured to roll any bales on the bale support
frame off of the bale support frame. A lift frame may be configured
to lift a bale positioned adjacent to the bale support frame onto
the bale support frame into a load position. The lift frame may be
pivotally movable with respect to the bale support frame to move a
bale on the ground surface into the load position. The bale support
frame may be mounted in a laterally offset position on the
transport assembly such that the longitudinal axis of the bale
support frame is laterally offset from the central fore-aft axis of
the transport assembly.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the more
important elements of the disclosure in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment or
implementation in greater detail, it is to be understood that the
scope of the disclosure is not limited in its application to the
details of construction and to the arrangements of the components
set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and
implementations and is thus capable of being practiced and carried
out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the
phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of
description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
disclosure. It is important, therefore, that the disclosure be
regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they
do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure.
The advantages of the various embodiments of the present
disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that
characterize the disclosure, are disclosed in the following
descriptive matter and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The disclosure will be better understood and when consideration is
given to the drawings and the detailed description which follows.
Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the new trailer system
according to the present disclosure, and particularly showing the
bale support frame in the load condition, the lift frame in the
lowered position, and the sled of the bale shifting assembly in the
home position.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the trailer system,
according to an illustrative embodiment, and particularly showing
the bale support frame in the load condition, the lift frame in the
raised position, and the sled of the bale shifting assembly in the
home position.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the trailer system,
according to an illustrative embodiment, and particularly showing
the bale support frame in the load condition, the lift frame in the
lowered position, and the sled of the bale shifting assembly in the
push position.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the trailer system,
according to an illustrative embodiment, and particularly showing
the bale support frame in the dump condition, the lift frame in the
raised position, and the sled of the bale shifting assembly in the
home position.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the trailer system,
according to an illustrative embodiment, and particularly showing
the bale support frame being loaded with a plurality of bales, as
well as showing a bale being engaged with the lift frame and ready
to be moved by the lift frame into the load position on the bale
support frame.
FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a rear portion of the trailer
system according to an illustrative embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a front portion of the trailer
system according to an illustrative embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of a front portion of the trailer
system according to an illustrative embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic bottom view of a front portion of the trailer
system according to an illustrative embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1
through 9 thereof, a new bale loading and transporting trailer
system embodying the principles and concepts of the disclosed
subject matter will be described.
The present disclosure relates to a bale loading and transporting
trailer system 10 with unique combinations and arrangements of
features that provide significant benefits to the user, in terms of
providing a relatively lightweight trailer that is able to carry
more cargo, requires less power to tow, and is able to be pulled at
highways speeds of up to and exceeding 50 miles per hour. The
trailer system 10 may also provide a trailer that is relatively
easily operated for loading and transporting bales by a single
person without requiring additional vehicles to load and unload the
trailer, or requiring the operator to leave the vehicle to operate
the additional vehicles. Further, the trailer system 10 includes
features that permit the trailer to be towed with a conventional
pickup truck.
The trailer system 10 is suitable for use with materials assembled
into bales 1, especially bales that have a substantially
cylindrical shape, although the usefulness of the trailer may
extend beyond this type and configuration of cargo to other types
and configurations of cargo. The trailer system is configured in a
manner so that it is suitable for being pulled behind a vehicle 2,
such as a pickup truck or a tractor.
The bale loading and transporting trailer system 10 may generally
be elongated with a front end 4 and a back end 6, and a
longitudinal axis 8 that extends between the front and back ends.
The trailer system 10 may include a transport assembly 12 for
moving across a ground surface, such as the surface of an
agricultural field or a road or highway. The transport assembly 12
may be located along the longitudinal axis 8 of the trailer system
at a location that is spaced from the front end 4 and the rear end
6, and may be substantially centrally located between the front and
rear ends.
In greater detail, and such as is shown in the illustrative
embodiments of the drawings, the transport assembly 12 may comprise
a transport frame 14 that includes a plurality of transverse
members 16 and a plurality of longitudinal members 18 that join the
transverse members. The transport frame 14 may have a central
longitudinal axis 20 (see FIG. 6) that is substantially centrally
located between the furthest lateral extents of the trailer frame
14. The transport assembly 12 may further comprise at least one
axle 22, and preferably includes a pair of axles 22 that are
mounted on the transport frame 14. A pair of wheels 24, 25 may be
mounted on opposite ends of each of the axles 22. The axles 22
extend transverse to the longitudinal axis 8 of the trailer system
10.
The trailer system 10 may also include a bale support frame 30 that
is configured to support a plurality of bales, and suitably
supports one or more bales in an end to end orientation with the
central axes of the cylindrical bales being aligned and parallel to
the longitudinal axis 8 of the trailer system 10. The bale support
frame 30 may be elongated with a front end 32 and a rear end 34,
and a longitudinal axis that is oriented parallel to the
longitudinal axis 8. Any number of bales may be supported on the
frame 30 between the ends 32, 34, but a capacity of between five
and ten bales is desirable.
The bale support frame 30 is mounted on the transport assembly 12,
and the transport assembly 12 thus supports the support frame 30 in
a position above the ground surface. Significantly, the bale
support frame 30 may be movable with respect to the transport
assembly 12 between a load condition (see FIG. 1) that is
configured to securely support bales on the bale support frame, and
a dump condition (see FIG. 4) that is configured to cause any bales
resting upon the bale support frame to roll off of the support
frame 30 to the side of the support frame in a side dump fashion.
The bale support frame 30 may be laterally tipped from the load
condition to the dump condition. To achieve the movement between
the load and dump conditions, the bale support frame 30 may be
pivotally mounted on the transport assembly 12 to permit the
tipping or tilting of the bale support frame with respect to the
transport assembly. The bale support frame 30 may be pivotable with
respect to the transport assembly about a tip axis that is oriented
substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 8 of the trailer
system 10, and thus the tip axis may be substantially horizontal
axis in orientation.
In one significant aspect of the trailer system 10, the bale
support frame 30 may be mounted in a laterally offset position on
the transport assembly 12, such that the bale support frame is
located lateral to the central longitudinal axis 20 of the trailer
frame 14. The bale support frame 30 may thus be located closer to
one wheel 25 of the pair of wheels on an axle than the other wheel
24 on the axle. This feature may provide balance in the trailer
system 10 for the weight of a bale as it is being lifted onto the
bale support frame, particularly when the first bale is being
loaded onto an unloaded bale support frame, and there are no bales
on the support frame to provide additional downward force on the
support frame.
The bale support frame 30 may have a load position 36 which is the
position at which a bale is initially placed upon the bale support
frame when loaded on the support frame. The load position may be
located at the foremost position for a bale on the bale support
frame, and the position closest to the front end 32 of the support
frame. The bale support frame may also have at least one store
position 38 which is located rearwardly on the bale support frame
of the load position 36 for bales that have previously been loaded
onto the frame 30. Thus, the forwardmost position that a bale may
have on the bale support frame may be the load position 36, and
each position rearward of the load position may be considered a
store position. In another significant aspect of the system 10,
tipping or tilting of the bale support frame 30 from the load
condition to the dump condition may unload all bales in the load 36
and storage 38 positions substantially simultaneously and at the
same time, rather than, for example, being unloaded or dumped one
at a time in a serial fashion.
In greater detail, an illustrative embodiment of the bale support
frame 30 may comprise a spine 40 that extends in the longitudinal
direction of the bale support frame, and which has a forward end
generally corresponding to the front end 32 of the support frame
and a rearward end generally corresponding to the rear end 34 of
the support frame. The bale support frame 30 may also include a
pair of support rails 42, 43 that are positioned on opposite
lateral sides of the spine 40, and may each be oriented
substantially parallel to the spine. The bale support frame 30 may
further include a plurality of cross members 44 connecting the
support rails 42, 43 to the spine 40 to thereby support the rails
on the spine. It should be recognized that other configurations for
the bale support frame may be employed, although the disclosed
configuration has been found to be highly suitable for the purpose
of supporting the bales.
The support rails 42, 43 may be located at a relatively higher
vertical level than the spine with respect to the ground surface
such that a bale resting on the support frame 30 primarily rests
upon the support rails, and not the spine, but this relationship is
not critical. The load condition of the bale support frame 30 may
be characterized by the support rails 42, 43 being positioned at
substantially the same vertical level as each other, while the dump
condition my be characterized by one 43 of the support rails being
positioned at a lower vertical level than the other one 42 of the
support rails.
The bale support frame 30 may also comprise a lift mounting base 46
for supporting the lift frame 60 which is described in greater
detail below. The lift mounting base 46 may be mounted on the spine
40, and may include a pair of mounts 48, 49 that extend in a
lateral direction from the spine 40. Each of the mounts 48, 49 has
an outer end, and the mounts may be located rearwardly on the
support frame 30 of the load position 36.
The trailer system 10 may further include an actuation assembly 50
configured to cause pivoting or tipping of the bale support frame
30 with respect to the transport assembly 12. The actuation
assembly 50 may comprise a telescopic actuator 52 that is connected
to the support frame 30 and the transport frame 14 such that
extension of the telescopic actuator causes the bale support frame
to pivot and tip from the load condition to the dump condition.
Retraction of the actuator causes movement of the support frame 30
back toward the load condition. In some embodiments, the actuation
assembly 50 may comprise a hydraulic cylinder and rod, although
other types of actuators may be employed, telescopic or not.
The trailer system 10 may further include a hitch assembly 54
located toward or at the front end 32 of the bale support frame.
The hitch assembly 54 may be mounted to the spine 40.
Significantly, the hitch assembly 54 may be substantially rigidly
connected to the bale support frame 30 such that the hitch assembly
moves with the bale support frame when the support frame is pivoted
and tipped from the load condition to the dump condition.
In greater detail, in the illustrative embodiment the hitch
assembly 54 comprises a gooseneck hitch arm 56 that is configured
to attach to a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle. The gooseneck hitch
arm 56 may include a substantially vertical jack portion, a
substantially horizontal intermediate portion, and a substantially
vertical forward portion. In the illustrative embodiments, the
intermediate portion includes an inclined section as well as a
substantially horizontal section. Use of the gooseneck type hitch
allows the hitch assembly to tilt with the support frame 30, while
remaining connected to the towing vehicle. Optionally, when other
types of hitch connections are utilized, the hitch assembly may
include portions that pivot with respect to each other so that one
portion may remain stationary with the vehicle while another
portion of the hitch tilts or pivots with the support frame 30.
The hitch assembly 54 may also comprise a trailer jack 58
configured to selectively engage the ground surface to support the
gooseneck hitch arm 56 in a position above the ground surface. The
trailer jack is extendable downwardly from the gooseneck hitch arm
to engage the ground surface and is retractable to disengage from
the ground surface, such as for highway travel.
The trailer system 10 may also include a lift frame 60 that is
configured to lift a bale which is positioned adjacent to the bale
support frame 30 onto the support frame. The lift frame 60 may be
movable with respect to the support frame between a lowered
position (see FIG. 1) that is adjacent to the ground surface, and a
raised position (see FIG. 2) above the ground surface and adjacent
to the support frame that permits the bale to roll or fall to the
support frame under the influence of gravity. In the illustrative
embodiments, the lift frame 60 is pivotally connected to the bale
support frame, and may be positioned with respect to the support
frame so as to place a bale into the load position 36 on the
support frame.
In greater detail, an illustrative embodiment of the lift frame 60
comprises a primary arm 62 that extends outwardly from the bale
support frame 30, and may be pivotally mounted on the support frame
to permit pivot movement of the arm with respect to the frame 30.
The primary arm 62 has an inboard end and an outboard end, and the
inboard end may be mounted on the support frame 30 and the outboard
end is free to move with respect to the frame 30. In the
illustrative embodiments, the inboard end is mounted on the
forwardmost mount 49 of the lift mounting base 46.
The lift frame 60 may also have a pair of lift arms 64, 65 for
positioning below a bale to be lifted. The lift arms 64, 65 may be
mounted on the primary arm 62 and may extend away from the primary
arm in substantially the same direction. The lift arms 64, 65 may
be spaced from each other, and the distance between the arms may be
adjustable. The outermost one 64 of the lift arms may have a main
portion 64a that extends substantially perpendicular to the primary
arm, a medial portion 64b that extends at an angle to the main
portion, and a tip portion 64c that extends at an angle to the
medial portion. The innermost lift arm 65 has a main portion and a
medial portion, with the main portion of the outermost lift arm and
the main portion of the innermost lift arm being oriented
substantially parallel to each other. The medial portions of the
outermost 64 and innermost 65 lift arms may extend in divergent
directions with respect to each other to facilitate the insertion
of the bale between the arms 64, 65 as the lift frame is moved
toward the bale resting on the ground surface in a field. The tip
portion of the outermost arm 64 may be angled to permit the tip
portion to be used to engage and turn a bale as it lies in the
field for proper alignment with the lift frame. An auxiliary
support 66 may be mounted on the innermost lift arm 65 and may
extend toward the bale support frame 30 to support a bale situated
on the lift frame when the lift frame is being moved from the
lowered position to the raised position, so that the bale does not
prematurely fall from the lift assembly and as a result not reach
the load position on the support frame.
The lift frame 60 may further include a support beam 68 that
extends between one 48 of the mounts of the lift mounting base and
a location on the primary arm 62. The support beam 68 may be
mounted to the primary arm at a location that is spaced from the
inboard end of the primary arm, and that location may be closer to
the outboard end of the primary arm than the inboard end of the
primary arm. The support beam acts to counter twisting forces on
the primary arm when the bale is lifted, as well as permitting one
of the mounts to be located rearwardly of the primary arm and the
lift arms.
A bale shifting assembly 70 of the trailer system 10 may be
configured to shift a bale from the load position 36 on the bale
support frame to the store position 38 behind the load position,
thereby moving any bale in the foremost store position to a store
position that is further back on the support frame 30. The bale
shifting assembly 70 may push a bale in the load position in a
rearward direction, as well as any bales contacted by the bale
being pushed by the bale shifting assembly.
The bale shifting assembly 70 may comprise a sled 72 that is
movable on the bale support frame 30 between a home position 74
(see FIG. 1) and a push position 76 (see FIG. 3). The sled 72 may
be movable in a longitudinal direction of the bale support frame 30
between the positions. The home position 74 is located adjacent to
the front end of the bale support frame, and the push position 78
is located rearwardly of the home position. The push position may
be spaced from the home position a distance that is less than
one-half of the length of the bale support frame, and may be less
than one-third of the length of the support frame. The push
position 78 may be spaced from the home position 76 by a distance
that is approximately one bale width, or just slightly larger than
one bale width. The push position may be spaced from the home
position less than approximately 10 feet, and in some preferred
embodiments, the push position is spaced from the home position
approximately 70 inches.
In greater detail, the sled 72 may include a pusher structure 78
configured to contact a bale located in the load position 36, and
at least a portion of the pusher structure may be located above the
support rails 42, 43 of the bale support frame for this purpose.
The pusher structure may include a pusher member 80 which may have
a central portion 82 and a lateral end portion 84. Illustratively,
the central portion 82 may be substantially horizontally oriented
and the lateral end portion 84 may be inclined from the central
portion. The lateral end portion 84 may be inclined upwardly and
forwardly to help guide a bale moving into the load position on the
support frame without becoming entangled with the pusher member.
The sled 72 may further comprise a pair of longitudinal members 86
that extend from the pusher structure 80, and may be laterally
spaced from each other. Each of the longitudinal members 86, 87 may
have a first end that is connected to the pusher structure and a
second end that is located opposite of the first end. The first end
is located relatively closer to the front end 4 of the trailer
system 10, and the second end is located relatively closer to the
rear end 6 of the trailer system. The longitudinal members may
extend below a bale positioned in the load position, and although
the bale may not directly contact the longitudinal members, such
contact may be implemented.
The bale shifting assembly 70 may further comprise a pair of sled
guide rails 88, 89 that are configured to support and guide
movement of the sled 72 between the home position 74 and the push
position 76. Each of the sled guide rails 88, 89 may be mounted on
the bale support frame 30, and may be laterally spaced from each
other as well as being substantially parallel to each other. Each
of the guide rails 88, 89 may be positioned adjacent to one of the
support rails 42, 43 of the support frame. Rollers on each of the
longitudinal members 86, 87 may ride on, otherwise be entrained
upon, one of the sled guide rails 88, 89 to thereby guide movement
of the sled. A pair of the rollers may be mounted on each
longitudinal member, and the rollers may be longitudinally spaced
along each of the members 86, 87.
Additionally, the bale shifting assembly 70 may include a sled
moving assembly 90 that is configured to move the sled 72 between
the home 74 and push 76 positions. The sled moving assembly 90 may
be mounted on the bale support frame and may act on the sled to
move the sled with respect to the bale support frame.
Illustratively, the sled moving assembly may include at least one,
and preferably a pair of, telescopic actuators that are connected
to the support frame 30 and the pusher structure 80. Each of the
telescopic actuators may be connected to one of the longitudinal
members at the second end thereof, so that an actuator acts on each
of the longitudinal members in a manner such that extension of the
actuators causes the sled to move toward the push position, and
retraction of the actuators causes the sled to move toward the home
position.
The actions of the various actuators described herein, such as to
tilt the bale support frame, pivot the lift frame, and move the
sled, may be caused by the utilization of hydraulic fluid circuits,
although those skilled in the art will recognize in view of this
disclosure that other means may be used for causing these actions,
including, but not limited to, electrically-powered actuators and
pneumatically-powered actuators. Advantageously, a hydraulic power
source is often integrated into the towing vehicle in the form of a
power take-off from the driveline, such as in the case of a
tractor, or may be readily carried by the vehicle in the form of a
portable hydraulic power unit including a gas or electric motor and
a hydraulic pump, such as in the case of a pickup truck. Control of
the actuators, such as the through the hydraulic fluid circuits,
may be accomplished by manual controls that control the flow of the
fluid through the circuits. The controls may be mounted on some
element of the trailer system, such as the hitch assembly, or may
be remotely located, such as in the cab of the vehicle. The remote
control may also be wirelessly linked to solenoids or other
actuators that actuate the hydraulic control valves. The control of
the various actions may optionally be automated so that the
actuators act in an automatic and coordinated fashion, such as by
automatically pivoting the lift frame from the lowered to raised
position to place the bale in the load position, followed by moving
the sled from the home position to the push position, without the
user having to separately actuate the controls to cause the lifting
and pushing actions.
Further, it will be appreciated that the concepts of the disclosure
may be applied to bales that are not circular or cylindrical, and
have, for example, a more cubic shape. Also, the elements of the
concept may be scaled up or down, and may, for example, utilize
multiple rows of bales on the bale support frame using one or more
lift frames.
In one significant aspect of the trailer system 10, the bale
support frame 30 may connect the transport assembly 12 to the hitch
assembly 54, and thus may form the only mechanical connection
between the transport assembly and the hitch assembly, without
requiring any frame separate of the bale support frame to connect
these structures. This arrangement provides a trailer system that
is lighter in weight and easier to manufacture than trailers that
employ a full frame that links the axles to the hitch in addition
to a frame or bed for supporting the bales. In a further
advantageous aspect, the lift frame is mounted on the bale support
frame, rather than on a separate linking frame, and tips with the
bale support frame when the bale support frame is tipped laterally
about the tip axis. This arrangement further avoids any need for a
heavy and expensive linking frame that is not required by the
present trailer system.
Further, since the trailer system is capable of dumping the bales
simultaneously from the side of the support frame 30, the bale
shifting assembly needs to be movable along only a portion of the
length of the bale support frame, enough to open the load position,
rather than the bale shifting assembly having to move the entire
length of the support frame so as to be able to eject bales
serially from the end of the support frame. This arrangement
further contributes to the light weight and inexpensiveness of the
trailer system. The relatively lightweight character of the trailer
system permits the system 10 to be easily pulled down a road at
highway speeds of over 50 miles per hour, which is not possible
with heavier bale carrying trailers.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
disclosed embodiments and implementations, to include variations in
size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation,
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one
skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the disclosed subject matter to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to that
fall within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *
References